Shock from seeing an alien ship was one of a whole host of far-fetched excuses offered by speeding motorists trying to avoid penalty points and fines.

Bemused staff at the Northumbria Safety Camera Partnership say many drivers believe if they come up with an elaborate excuse they will be let off.

They have compiled a top 10 of the most ridiculous claims from speeding drivers including rushing to see dying pets.

But they also warned their message is serious and that speeding claims lives.

Staff at the Partnership, responsible for fixed speed cameras in the north-east of England, regularly receive letters from drivers hoping to avoid the £60 fines and three points on their licence.

Daft speeding excuses

I passed out after seeing UFOs

A jet over-head, not me, triggered the camera

I had a severe bout of diarrhoea

A gust of wind pushed me over the limit

I had to rush my dying hamster to the vet

Manager Ray King said: "Some drivers seem to think that if they tell a good enough story, then they will get off, which unfortunately rarely works.

"But if there are genuine mitigating reasons, there is always the option of putting their case to a magistrate."

Everything from the wind behind the car to jets overhead and dying hamsters have been blamed by motorists, Mr King said.

But he added: "This is a light-hearted look at excuses for speeding, but it is a serious issue - we'd rather not be getting any letters at all because no one is breaking the speed limit and no one is receiving a ticket."